Sweet Mace: A Sussex Legend of the Iron Times

The narrative follows Gil Carr, who returns from long sea voyages and reflects on a recent year of recklessness, heartbreak, and distant travel. Back in a Sussex valley he reconnects with local figures such as Wat Kilby and Mother Goodhugh, and becomes entangled in village incidents that range from domestic reckonings to a dramatic act affecting the railway. Lush natural description — a spring morning’s chorus, detailed flora, and bird-song — frames interwoven episodes of romance, maritime adventure, and regional legend, exploring memory, longing, and how personal histories shape small-community life.